The Sega Master System can be seen as either a failure or success, it depends on which market you are talking about. While the console did poorly in the US market due to Nintendo's monopoly, the opposite can be said for some of the other markets, namely Europe.

The Master System was officially released in the States in 1986. The decision to release the console in the west before it was released in Japan was an attempt to catch up with the massive gain Nintendo already had on the market. Nintendo had very wisely taken advantage of the video game crash by plugging the gap in early 1985 with its new Famicom or Nintendo Entertainment System as it was known in America.

read more...

The American consumers had gone mad for the new NES console, and at one point the demand for the machine was more than Nintendo could meet. They had waited too long for decent quality titles and Nintendo came armed with a number of high quality arcade conversions, and a few new titles to whet the consumer’s appetite. The console was a huge success and game developers flocked to Nintendo in droves, especially as Atari recently ceased to exist and the console market had all but dried up.

It’s a fact that Sega's Master System was technically the better machine. Just as the NES was based on the Famicom home computer, the Master System was also based on a home computer - the Sega SC-3000; its third machine. It had better specs the NES, and with Sega's knowledge and reputation of making quality arcade games, it should have done much better than it did. But in the end it had have nothing to do with the machines, but the way in which Nintendo dealt with software developers that made the SMS a flop.

Such was the demand for developers to produce games for the latest console, that Nintendo ruthlessly locked them into producing games exclusively for them. It was written into the licenses that the games could not be ported onto other machines, which effectively gave Nintendo a monopoly over the American Video game market. By the time Sega arrived on the scene, most developers were already associated with Nintendo, and only a handful were left for Sega.

Sega battled Nintendo for nearly two years for the American market before deciding to cut their losses. Nintendo had gained so much territory that Sega just could not compete. They handed over the control of the Sega Master System to Tonka Toys and concentrated their efforts in Europe where they had recently released the console. This proved to be a wise move for Sega and the Master System was much more successful here than anywhere else. This was almost a two-fingered salute to Nintendo who until now must have been smugly rubbing their hands all the way to the bank.

A large number of developers, most of who had made a name for themselves on the Commodore 64 and Spectrum home computers, started producing games for the SMS. In the same way that Nintendo America had secured all the best developers stateside, Sega managed to do the same in Europe (and without 'illegal' market practices). This was the turning point in Sega's fortune, and would be followed by a number of other 'victories' over Nintendo in the forthcoming years.

In 1989 Sega caused a stir with the release of the Genesis (Megadrive) console. This caused people in the States to change the way they felt about Sega, and Sega decided to buy back the rights to the Master System from Tonka. In all honesty, Tonka had been hopeless at marketing the SMS, and had made little or no difference to sales in the two years they had had control of the console. They hadn't won any additional developers and had mainly shipped poor titles over titles from Japan, most of which should have stayed there.

Sega redesigned the Master System, and released a 'bare bones' console - the Master System II, which was not much more than a box with a cartridge slot and a power switch. They dropped the price, and spent a great deal on advertising the console, and released a number of successful Genesis games, namely Streets of Rage & Sonic the Hedgehog. This improved sales slightly, but by now gamers had turned their attention to Sega's 16Bit console, so in reality the move came too late.

Sega finally found success with the Master System in South America. They licensed the console to Tec Toy, who redesigned the casing of the Master System II and released it as the Master System III in Brazil. The console and games were inexpensive to produce, and the sheer volume of Brazilian buyers meant the price dropped, which in turn meant even more people could afford the console. Indeed, the console was a massive success and was only taken off the shelves in 1997, after selling over 2 million units.

Personally, I loved the console. There were a number of great gun games (of which I am a fan) and while there were very few 3D games, I think the glasses worked remarkably well, even if they made me feel a little sick after more than an hour! I have always been a big advocate of the Wonderboy games, and with four such titles released on the SMS this is a good enough reason for it to be my preferred 8Bit console!

So there you have the history of the Master System. I can't help feeling sorry for Sega in some ways. The console failed in America because of Nintendo's illegal monopoly of the market, and the poor marketing of the console once Tonka took over. I can't help wondering what would have been if the developers had gone with Sega, the better of the two machines. Would the games have been any better? Would there have been more quality 8Bit titles? Or would we just have the same games in different packaging and different sized cartridges?

Kick, punch and club your opponents to the round at one hundred and fifty miles per hour! Race fourteen hostile opponents in the most illegal and dangerous race around. Avoid cows, roadblocks, oil spills and motorcycle cops!

Old Detroit. The streets are full of danger. Only one man can stand alone against such numbers. A man like no other man. Robocop. With state of the art weaponry, a skin of steel and nerves to match he stalks his prey.evil-doers everywhere.

In the near future, the worlds of Robocop and The Terminator merge into a single reality. You, as Robocop, must save mankind by destroying the Skynet super computer in the possible future in which machines rule the Earth and Skynet is supreme.

Darius, a peaceful place much like Erath, was all but destroyed some time ago by an unknown enemy. Two young pilots managed to escape. following a distress signal from what remains of their home planet, they're headed back into the fire!

Welcome The Earth has been attacked by extra-terrestrial forces. Their weaponry is fierce and their numbers are almost too great to count. It will take a couple of fearless fighter pilots to bring them to defeat. Are you up to the job?

In search of your captured friends, you as Ashura, or together with your comrade-in-arms Bishamon, infiltrate far into the vast enemy stronghold. Use auto-rifle and arrow-grenade against such foes as the Riflemen, Bazooka Soldiers, Artillerymen and a host of others.

As with any electrical equipment, the Sega Master System comes with a power supply which can occasionally go bang! Well, help is at hand in the shape of a replacement power pack. You don't need to throw your old console away and buy a new one any more, simply replace the power supply and you're away! Please note this item is for the Sega Master...

The Master System I console. This console comes with Alex Kidd game built in. There is a huge catalogue of games available for the Master System to suit all your game play demands. Comes with Control Deck, Game Pad, AC adapter and RF Lead. The box, console and contents are all in good condition, however the instructions are missing and the...

The Master System I console. This console comes with Hang-On game built in. There is a huge catalogue of games available for the Master System to suit all your game play demands. Comes with Control Deck, Game Pad, AC adapter, RF Lead and manual. The box, console and contents are all in good condition.

The Master System Plus console. This console comes with two games built in - Safari Hunt & Hang-on. There is a huge catalogue of games available for the Master System to suit all your game play demands. Comes with Control Deck, two game pads, Light Phaser, AC adapter, RF Lead and manual.

A modified Sega Master System I consisting of a Base Unit, AC Adapter, RGB Scart Lead and a Controller. This console has been fitted with our new ultimate switchless modification. It does all the same as our normal modifications do, except the changes are made by pressing and holding the reset switch. No holes are drilled, no external switches...

As with any electrical equipment, the Sega Master System comes with a power supply which can occasionally go bang! Well, help is at hand in the shape of a replacement power pack. You don't need to throw your old console away and buy a new one any more, simply replace the power supply and you're away! Please note this item is for the Sega Master...

The Master System II console. This console comes with Alex Kidd game built in. There is a huge catalogue of games available for the Master System to suit all your game play demands. Comes with Control Deck, Game Pad, AC adapter, RF Lead and manual.

This is a smart little bit of kit that neatly stores your Master System 2 console and other peripherals away neatly. There is space for one console, two controllers, the power supply and several games. Enables you to store neatly and transport easily and safely.

A modified Sega Master System II consisting of a Base Unit, Power Lead, RF Lead and a Controller. A 50hz/60hz switch has been added to allow you to play games at full speed and in full screen mode instead of letterbox mode. To my knowledge this will allow you to play all imported games. The console has been tested and comes unboxed without any...

A modified Sega Master System II consisting of a Base Unit, Power Lead, Scart Lead and a Controller. This console has been fitted with our new ultimate switchless modification. It does all the same as our normal modifications do, except the changes are made by pressing and holding the reset switch. No holes are drilled, no external switches...

The Master System II Plus console. This console comes with two games - Alex Kidd and Operation Wolf. There is a huge catalogue of games available for the Master System to suit all your game play demands. Comes with Control Deck, two game pads, Light Phaser, AC adapter, RF Lead and manual.

The Master System II console. This is an unusual console as it comes with one game built in - Alex Kidd, but also comes with Sonic the Hedgehog as well. Also included is an extra control pad. There is a huge catalogue of games available for the Master System to suit all your game play demands. Comes with Control Deck, Sonic Game, two game pads, AC...

The Master System II console. This console comes with Sonic game built in. There is a huge catalogue of games available for the Master System to suit all your game play demands. Comes with Control Deck, Game Pad, AC adapter, RF Lead and manual. The console has been tested and works fine.

The official Sega 3D glasses. This has to be one of my favourite peripherals for ANY console! This glasses plug into the card slot on your Master System and produce a red and green strobe effect in each eye. This corresponds to what is on screen and produces an impressive 3D effect. Compatible only with 3D games such as Outrun 3D, Space Harrier 3D...

Does not work with Sega Master System 2 Console, Very Rare item in Excellent Condition.

The official Sega 3D glasses. This has to be one of my favourite peripherals for ANY console! This glasses plug into the card slot on your Master System and produce a red and green strobe effect in each eye. This corresponds to what is on screen and produces an impressive 3D effect. Compatible only with 3D games such as Outrun 3D, Space Harrier 3D...

The official Sega rapid fire unit. This is a great little gadget, that fits onto the end of your controller before it plugs into your console. When the unit is set onto the on position, turbo fire is simulated by simply holding the button. No more manic button bashing which wears out your controllers! This item comes unboxed.

Facebook Log on

Just In!

Once long ago, the Kingdom of Y's fell under a reign of evil. But the Goddesses of Y's saved the Kingdom from ruin. Their feats were written in six magical books and hidden until the time the goddesses would be needed again. A thousand...